Version review

DS 4 1.6 E-TENSE Esprit de Voyage 5dr EAT8 Review

Why the overall winner won

Best small SUV

Best family car

Best small electric car

Best luxury car

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

site ribbon config

The 1.6 E-Tense Plug-in Hybrid is the one to have if you’re a company car driver aiming to keep benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax payments low. With 221bhp, the E-Tense feels especially brisk, going from 0-60mph in 7.7sec, which is almost one second faster than the BMW 1 Series 118i M Sport. On top of the extra pace, the E-Tense also boasts an official electric-only range of 38miles (although, we’d take that with a pinch of salt) and low CO2 emissions. 

1.6 E-TENSE

Hatchback

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

DS 4

Esprit de Voyage

1.6 E-TENSE Esprit de Voyage 5dr EAT8

16-e-tense-esprit-de-voyage-5dr-eat8

Massage and ventilation function for front seats

Mirror Screen with Apple car play/Android Auto

Driver, front passenger, front lateral and curtain airbags

The DS 4’s sculpted interior helps give it a real premium feel, making it a good – if pricey – alternative to the usual family SUVs. However, the disappointing gearbox, so-so performance and poor rear space mean that it still can’t quite stand up to a lot of its rivals, including the Audi Q3 and Cupra Formentor.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

DS 4 1.6 E-TENSE Esprit de Voyage 5dr EAT8 Review

Get the best price with What Car?

The model

The trim

The engine

Buying with What Car?

Key information

Available colours

232.3

390

litres

27

g/km

Also consider

Dacia Duster

MG ZS

Ssangyong Korando

Mazda CX-30

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information